Leishman ready to hunt Rose

Marc Leishman faces a tough deficit against major winner Justin Rose but the Victorian has far from put the cue in the rack after the third round of the US PGA tour Memorial Tournament.

Despite only mustering a one-under-71 to get to nine under and sit a distant six shots off the former US Open winner, Leishman vowed to have a real crack at his second tour victory.

Rose, who has saluted at Muirfield Village before in 2010 and who won the 2013 US Open, posted a six-under-66 to sit comfortably in front at 15-under-201.

He leads by three from Italian Francesco Molinari (69) and Swede David Lingmerth (72) at 12-under with American veteran Jim Furyk (70), also a former US Open and Memorial winner, fourth at 11 under.

Four players, including defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (71), share fifth at 10 under while Leishman is part of a five-way tie for ninth.

Earlier in the day former World No.1 Tiger Woods imploded to his career worst score, blowing out with a 13-over-85 to be last at 12-over, 27 shots off the lead.

Leishman is no stranger to the chase having won the 2012 Travelers Championship after starting eight shots off the lead.

“I’m not where I want to be but I’m not out of it,” Leishman said.

“There aren’t a whole lot of people between me and the leader compared to when I won last time and my game is there so I just have to put it all together.”

The Victorian was left to rue a pair of costly three-putts for bogeys on the front nine.

Staring at a nine-foot birdie putt on the third and a makeable 20-foot one on the eighth the 31-year-old could have easily been putting heat on Rose. But after dropping shots on both holes he was battling up hill.

“I made some critical errors, particularly with the three-putts which is disappointing because if I make those makeable birdies it’s obviously a different story,” he said.

“I have to be aggressive tomorrow where I can but also be careful because this place can jump up and grab you pretty easily. I will keep doing what I’ve been doing and just hopefully hole the putts.”

Steven Bowditch, a winner last week in Texas, made a run up the board to keep his slight hopes of a US Open berth alive.

At one point 10-under for the tournament Bowditch double bogeyed the last to shoot 68, finishing at eight under and a tie for 14th.

Currently ranked 65th in the world a top 10 finish could statistically move him inside the top 60 and if he can remain there for one more week he would get a last minute invite to the US Open at Chambers Bay on June 18-21.

While he made an eagle from 146 yards and chipped in for one of his seven birdies he had two doubles and a bogey.

“Too many dropped shots and silly mistakes today really but I feel like I have a low one in me,” Bowditch said.

“If I can go out and shoot a really low number tomorrow then we can just let it fall where it may.”

Greg Chalmers (-4), Matt Jones (-3) and John Senden (Even) are too far back to mount a challenge.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!